Toe-box inserter.



C. MIKKELSEN.

TOE BOX INSERTER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4. 1911.

Patented Aug. '6, 1918.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Application filed October 4, 1917. Serial No. 194,766.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN MIKKEL- SEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beloit in the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toe-Box Inserters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in toe box inserters for shoes, and the object thereof is to provide a simple and inexpensive device, which may be used to advantage in the application of celluloid and all other kinds of toe boxes, provision being made whereby the device may be inflated so as to hold the box against the shoe lining until it has adhered thereto.

With the foregoing general object in View, the invention resides in the novel features of construction to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the improved toe last; v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section thereof Fig. 3 is a horizontal section; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view.

In the drawing above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a body formed of wood or other suitable material and shaped to conform substantially to the shape of the toe of the shoe in which it is to be used. A bag 2 of rubber or other suitable elastic material is applied snugly over the body 1 with its edge turned inwardly at 3 around the read end of said body, a clam ing plate 4 being secured by screws or t e like 5 to said end of the body, so that the-edge 3 of the bag is clamped in an air-tight manner between said plate and body as will be clear from Figs. 2 and 3.

The body 1 is formed with a longitudinal port 6 which leads from its rear end to a suitable point adjacent its toe portion, at which point it communicates with a suitable number of branch ports 7 which lead to the space between the body and the bag 2, at

the sides of the former or at other appropriate points. The rear end of the port 6 registers with an opening 8 in the clamp ing plate 4, so that a tube 9 may be inserted through said opening and into said port for supplying compressed air or any other appropriate fluid pressure thereto.

The application of pressure to the device inflates the bag 2 within the toe of the shoe, said bag being totally unsecured t0 the body 1 with the exception of its rear edge. It will thus be obvious that the toe boxing which is applied to the last before insertion thereof, will be forced into tight engagement with the lining at the toe of the shoe, so that the cement or the like with which said boxing has been coated, may eifectively secure it in place.

It is desirable that the edges of the boxing shall extend a slight distance below the body 1, and in order that this may be done, the lower edge of the plate 4: extends a slight distance below said body as indicated at 10 to space it from the sole of the shoe. Similarly, a rest 11 is cemented or otherwise secured on the toe portion of the bag 2, in order to space the same from the sole.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it would be obvious that although my invention is of extremely simple and inexpensive nature, it will be highly efiicient and durable. Since probably the best results are obtained with the specific features of construction shown and described, these features constitute the preferred form of the device. I wish it un derstood, however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may well be made.

I claim:

1. A pneumatic toe box inserter comprising a body shaped to conform substantially to the shape of the toe of the shoe in which it is to be used, an air-tight elastic bag fitting snugly over said body and having its edge turned inwardly around the rear end thereof, and a plate secured to said end of the body for clamping said edge of the bag against the same, said body having a port for supplying fluid under pressure between the bag and body to inflate the latter, and said plate having an opening registering with said port.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said my hand in the presence of two subscribplate extending a slight distance below said. ing Witnesses.

body to space the rear end thereof from the CHRISTIAN MIKKELSEN. shoe sole, and a rest for similarly spacing Witnesses: 5 the front end of the device from the sole. H. W. ADAMS,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ZULA M. VOSBURGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). B. 

